Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
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P e n n s y l v a n i a ’ s S T A T E W I D E C O M P R E H E N S I V E O U T D O O R R E C R E A T I O N P L A N 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 9 N A T U R A L C O N N E C T I O N S C ONTENTS A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................1 LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR .......................2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................3 INTRODUCTION ............................................ 6 Background Plan Purpose Foundation for Success T HE PEOPLE’S PLAN ...................................... 9 Citizen Surveys Provider Survey Public Feedback The preparation of this plan was R ESEARCH AND TRENDS .............................. 12 financed in part through a Land Our Changing Populations and Water Conservation Fund Research Findings planning grant, and the plan was approved by the National Park National Outdoor Trends Service, U.S. Department of Technology the Interior under the provisions for the Federal Land and Water PRIORITY AREAS ........................................ 30 Conservation Fund Act of 1965 Health and Wellness (Public Law 88-578). Local Parks and Recreation National Park Service – Economic Development and Tourism Jack Howard, David Lange Resource Management and Stewardship and Sherry Peck Funding and Financial Sustainability IM PLEMENTATION MATRIX .......................... 85 ACRONYMS ................................................. 94 APPENDICES on attached disk A. Foundation for Success: An Overview of the 2009-2013 Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan B. Outdoor Recreation in Pennsylvania Resident Survey C. Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Online Surveys D. Pennsylvania Local Park and Recreation Provider Survey E. Trends and Demographic Analysis F. Pennsylvania Local Parks and the Communities They Serve G. Pennsylvania Wetlands Update H. Pennsylvania Land and Water Trail Network Strategic Plan 2014-2019 I. Case Studies and Best Practices 2014–2019 PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T echnical Advisory Committee R esearch Team – National Park Service Center for Rural PA PA State Association of Penn State Sherry Peck Barry Denk Township Supervisors University David Lange Jonathan Johnson Holly Fishel Andrew Mowen Allegheny National Forest Delaware & Lehigh National Penn State Hershey PRO Alan Graefe Jim Seyler Heritage Corridor, Inc. Wellness Center William Elmendorf Elissa Garofalo Donna Kephart U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Austin Barrett Scott Everett Alicia Hoke Gary Stolz National Wild Turkey County Commissioners USDA – Rural Development D epartment of Federation Association of PA Office Bob Eriksen Lisa Schaefer Conservation and Tom Williams Ray Smith Adrienne Hodson Natural Resources Angela Callie Jeff Gatano PA Council of Trout Unlimited Rails-To-Trails Conservancy Advisory Team Samantha Kutskel Tom Sexton PA Department of Agriculture Lauren Adair Pat Tomes Erin Smith PA Downtown Center Stephen Aux Mary Bender Julie Fitzpatrick Lancaster Recreation Paula Devore Bill Fontana Commission Cynthia Dunlap PA Department of Aging Sue Landes Mike Eschenmann Lauren Merlie PA Environmental Council Jason Hall Paul King Lower Providence Township PA Department of Community Meredith Hill Patrick Starr Karen Hegedus and Economic Development Lauren Imgrund Davitt Woodwell Scott Dunkelberger Pashek Associates Jeff Johns PA Federation of Bob Good Chris Kemmerer PA Department of Education Sportsmen’s Clubs John Buerkle Diane Kripas Dave Bauman Josh First Gretchen Leslie Sally Flaherty S & S Processing John Kline Rebecca Oyler Chris Lessig PA Department of Zack Roeder PA Parks & Forests Environmental Protection Blue Mountain Recreation Kelly Rossiter Foundation Kim Hoover Commission Vanyla Tierney Marci Mowery Laura Henry Mark Palerino PA Land Trust Association PA Department of Health Berks Conservancy Plan writer and editor: Andy Loza Serina Gaston Kim Murphy Gretchen Leslie Justin Lehman PA Recreation & Park Pottstown Health & Contributing writers: Society PA Historical and Museum Wellness Foundation Austin Barrett, William Elmendorf, Karen Burke Commission David Kraybill Meredith Hill, Lauren Imgrund, Emily Gates Bryan Van Sweden Diane Kripas, Andrew Mowen, Lehigh Valley Center for Andrea MacDonald PA State Association for Rebecca Oyler, Zachary Roeder, Independent Living Janice Mullen Health, Physical Education, Kelly Rossiter Bob Amelio Recreation & Dance PA Department of Brian Rogers Special thanks to Hannah Linda Woods-Huber Transportation Greenberg and Kathleen Eric Childs Richard King Mellon Douglas Zimmerman Wojtowicz for their assistance Foundation PA State Association of with the plan. PA Fish and Boat Commission Brian Hill Boroughs Laurel Anders Plan design: Leslie Suhr Graphics and Design, PA Game Commission PA Municipal League State College, PA Keith Snyder Mary Ann Nau Coren Jagnow Photo credits: See inside back cover PAOUTDOORRECPLAN.COM 1 LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Harrisburg the governor D ear Fellow Pennsylvanians: As your new governor, it gives me great pleasure to present Pennsylvania’s plan for helping our citizens connect to healthy outdoor recreation. As a lifelong resident, I have always marveled at Pennsylvania’s natural beauty and its seemingly endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Like many of you, I enjoy spending time hiking and enjoying the outdoors in the commonwealth’s state parks and forests and plan to make time for those activities during my time as governor. Outdoor activity can be a prescription for wellness and help our citizens combat chronic diseases and illnesses. Our local parks and programs can build solid communities and provide children opportunities to connect with nature. Trails, rivers and parks can create vibrant cities and towns and contribute to economic prosperity. And, as we create these spaces to recreate, we are also working to protect our natural resources for future generations. This plan is an outdoor recreation blueprint for all citizens, from our urban and suburban dwellers enjoying neighborhood parks, bike lanes and riverfront trails, to our more rural residents who frequently explore our vast state and federally protected lands. More than 10,000 of these citizens gave feedback on what is important to them, and the plan is reflective and inclusive of those thoughts and ideas. It will now be up to our community and state leaders and recreation providers to act upon the recommendations and actions set forth in the following pages. I wish them much luck and success in implementing Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Plan. TOM WOLF Governor 2 2014–2019 PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN E XECUTIVE SUMMARY Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation opportunities are as diverse as its people and places. Four seasons, mountains, rivers, lakes and millions of acres of forests and fields serve as the settings for just about every recreational pursuit. • Pennsylvania’s recreation professionals use the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan to help capitalize on the natural assets and deliver facilities and programs that make it easy for people to play outdoors. As demographics, trends and interests change, a new plan every five years identifies outdoor recreation strategies that help to address societal needs. ennsylvania’s outdoor recreation F INDINGS plan helps to guide strategy for local This comprehensive analysis showed that Pennsyl- governments, state government and vanians’ favorite outdoor recreation pursuits haven’t other outdoor recreation providers. changed much over the last five years, when research Priorities, recommendations and action for the last plan was conducted. Walking is still the items delineate a course of action for most popular activity, which mirrors national outdoor five years and help to determine where best to make P recreation preferences. About half the population investments in recreation. participates in outdoor recreation one or more times a The 2014 plan is the culmination of research, public week, and Pennsylvanians use their local parks more input and advice from a group of professional frequently than any other facility. recreation leaders serving on a technical advisory Maintenance of existing park and recreation areas committee. For about 18 months, the committee met continues to be the top concern and priority for both to discuss themes, research and public feedback. citizens and recreation providers, even more so than in More than 10,000 people participated in one of three 2009. Citizens still place high importance on protecting surveys or commented on the draft plan. This input open space and wildlife habitat; providers of recreation from citizens and recreation providers far exceeded services feel a greater obligation to providing recreation that received from any of the previous outdoor programs and building more greenways and trails. recreation plans written over the last 50 years. Since the 2009 plan, there has been growth in unconventional gas drilling, particularly in the northcentral and western parts of the state. Although the activity is having a slight impact on certain recreational activities and is changing some people’s behavior, most Pennsylvanians have yet to come in contact with the activity while recreating. Implementers of the plan will need to take into consideration the changing demographics and trends that are influencing how and where people recreate. Pennsylvania’s population is getting older and more diverse, which could translate into different needs and demands over the coming years. PAOUTDOORRECPLAN.COM 3 E XECUTIVE